Together with Psalm 26 & 28,
Psalm 27 is believed to be written by David when his son, Absalom, usurped his
throne and he was fleeing for his life. We were told in 2 Samuel that at this
point he was accused unkindly by his enemies, many of whom were from the camp
of Saul. Even in those dark and lonely hours when he was maligned and
misunderstood, he was confident that deliverance will come from the Lord. He
knew that he would be delivered from the hand of all his enemies. He wrote this
Psalm to comfort himself in the Lord.
He began by expressing his
confidence in Jehovah to himself. He asserted that there was nothing for him to
fear because God was his light, his salvation and his strength. He came back to
God’s past deliverance where he was saved from his vicious enemies. He recalled
how God had delivered him from a whole host of them. Every one of them stumbled
and fell before the intervention of the Lord. God’s faithfulness formed the
foundation for his confidence in Him for all his future encounters. He was
assured that God would not fail him and would come to his rescue. Hence he had
no fear concerning what he might have to confront.
The secret behind David’s
confidence in the Lord was his desire for the Lord and his wholehearted trust in
Him. This distinctive hunger for God had driven him passionately to seek His presence.
David learned to encounter his foes from a position of “restedness” in the Lord
and not from the restlessness of his soul. How to find rest in the Lord? When
we encounter our difficult times, here are three things David show us we can do
in the presence of the Lord. (1) We behold and contemplate His beauty; (2) we search
out and discern His ways, weighing each one carefully on how to act on them; (3)
and be still before Him, and in the secret of His presence discover the security
only He can give. In those quiet moments in His tabernacle, we will be assured
of security and firm footing, despite the relentless assaults of the enemies.
Having been assured of victory,
David made a vow to return to the Tabernacle to offer his sacrifices to the
Lord and to praise Him. David then break out into his petition to Jehovah in
verses 7-12. In response to God’s call to seek His face, he came asking for His
positive response toward him, and answer his prayer. Verses 9-10 show us how David
must have felt at that moment. He felt so forsaken by loved ones. But He knew God
was unlike them, He would in fact draw closer to those He loves. Here he was
actually expressing his disappointment with those who forsook him in the time
of his needs. David asked God to teach him, to show him and to lead him in the
path that would be clear and certain. He knew that if he were to meander away
from the path God had set for him, the enemies would overtake him. So he was actually
asking for strength to stay on God’s guided route. He knew God would be able to
protect him and not deliver him into the hands of his enemies.
Having experienced God’s unfailing
help in his most distressing moments, David now encourage us through this song,
not to grow weary or faint. But to courageously pursue God and find strength in
Him. In times of our own difficult moments, we should not feel compelled to act
hastily. We should instead wait before God, behold His beauty, and contemplate how
to please Him. We will find strength in our hope in Him. Like what Isaiah 40:31
tells us, “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new
strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will
run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Yes, we can pray to our
great God, and then trust Him completely!
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